Friction top pouring means



Patented July 15, 1941 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,243,981 1 I FRICTION 'ror POURINGTMEANS Amos N. Gerth, Columbus, 7 7 Application December 4, 1939, Serial No. -307,432

2 Claims.

This invention relates to friction top containers, and particularly to containers from which the contents are to be poured in part from time to time or entirely in one operation. A primary object of the invention is to provide a container top in substantially the same form as the usual friction top now being employed and so formin that top as to permit pouring directly therefrom without its removal and at the same time without having any projecting members whatsoever that would interfere in packaging and shipping the containers.

A still further important object of the invention resides in the fact that not only may the standard friction top closure be employed but also formed either entirely or in part at the factory as may be desired and at the same time a seal and sanitary cover is still provided. Pouring surfaces are entirely covered over and protected from dust and from contact with the hands of any person handling the container in shipment and storage or display.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a container embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a top plan View;

Fig. 3, a detail in section on the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a similar detail with the sealing friction top removed;

Fig. 5, a similar section showing the closure top ready for pouring;

Fig. 6, a detail on an enlarged scale in section on the line 66 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7, a top view in perspective suggesting one mode of shaping the pouring opening.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

In the form herein illustrated, the standard type of container I is shown wherein, Fig. 6, there is a top annular ring ll having a downturned flange l2 about the exterior surface of the container Ill and an inner downturned flange l3 forming a lip around the opening into the container. The usual friction top closure I4 is formed to have the major floor area l5 from which extends upwardly the annular wall It, the outer diameter of which is made to be such that it will-be in frictional engagement with the flange l3 when the closure is pushed down into the opening within the ring H, all in the usual and well known manner for closing such containers. From the upper end of the wall It the material, preferably metal, is formed to turn outwardly and slightly downwardly to terminate peripherally at or even slightly beyondthe outer side of the flange l2. Also, preferably the under side of-the marginal edge of this outturned portion of this closure 14 is beveled so that the extreme marginal edge is knife-like in character with the upper exposed surface directed downwardly and outwardly. For some liquids it may be preferable to have this marginal portion extend straightout instead of turning downwardly.

This closure M,-of course, may be formed to be permanently united with the container l0 if desired instead of being frictionally engaged therewith; In any event the closure I4 is formed to have a score ll, Fig. 2, in the shape of a short are near the junction of the floor area [5 and the wall It. Then by employing some instrument, such as a knife, or preferably a spoon [8 as indicated in Fig. '7, the floor area immediately adjacent the score ll is pushed downwardly to some such position as indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 6, into the finished position as indicated in Fig. 5. It is the usual procedure to form the closures l4 out of some light weight metal so that it requires but slight pressure to break through the score H and. push the metal down to the position indicated.

Then, diametrically opposite the opening thus produced from the score l1, an indentation I9 is preferably formed in the floor of the closure M to locate a vent hole. The indentation l9 forms a centering means so that a nail or ice pick or some such instrument may be employed to push on through the indentation to form the opening as indicated in Fig. 5.

Then the container is ready to be tipped for pouring its contents through the opening adjacent the score H. The contents will flow over the outer marginal edge of the closure M in an even smooth stream since air is admitted through the vent 20. When the desired amount of contents is thus poured out, the container may be rocked back toward its vertical position, the

rocking being sufficiently slow so as to permit the contents to quit flowing over the marginal edge of the closure. In the case of syrup, there will be a tendency for the last drop to hang on the marginal edge of the closure id, but by holding the container at an angle this drop will finally leave that edge to drop off cleanly whereupon the container may be immediately rocked to its vertical position and the remainder of the syrup, or the like, will then flow back down through the opening from which it has been poured, all without flowing back onto the floor l5. Since the marginal edge of the closure 14 is sharpened, tendency for that last drop or bit of material to fiow back under the closure is avoided. The difference is immediately noticed when this edge is left square in place of being beveled back.

A second friction top 2| is formed to frictionally engage by an annular upturned wall within the closure M to cover over the vent 20 and also the pouring hole. This upper cover 2| is preferably provided with an outturned marginal portion extending completely over .the like marginal portion of the closure l4 and the two members, closure l4 and cover 2|, are so formed as to permit these marginal areas to be in relatively close contact, as indicated in Fig. 1, in order to prevent entrance therebetween of dust and the like. However, as indicated in Fig. 3, it is desirable that there be a chamber 22 left between the fioors of the closure I4 and the cover .2! for two reasons. First, should any of the contents run back on the fioor of the closure M, the under side of the cover 2| would not bedirectly in contact therewith and such material would be given time to fiow back into the container. Secondly, this space provides means for carrying a leaflet or pamphletintended by the -manufacturer to reach the user. Of course, when such matter is placed in this chamber '22, the score I! and indentation l9 would be formed at the factory and not broken through in either instance. However, the invention is not to be limited to the fact that the closure [4 is simply scored and indented at the factory and left to the user for final opening. It is frequently feasible for the manufacturer toproduce these openings at the factory and rely upon the cover-2| to complete the seal and closure.

' It is thus to be seen that a container attached for pouring is produced that is extremely simple in construction and that can be made complete at the factory without any additional parts to be attached or fitted thereto. Furthermore no change of machinery is required to form any special friction tops or pouring spouts to be added to the ordinary friction top heretofore employed. Furthermore it requires substantially no change in size of packages containing multiple numbers of'these containers when shipped from the factory since no projecting members are employed.

While the invention has been shown and described in the one precise form, it is entirely obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is, therefore, not intended that the invention be limited to that form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination with a container, a frictionally engaging primary closure having a depressed area entirely thereover and having a pouring opening at one side of said area, and a secondary closure frictionally engaging within the primary closure, said primary closure having an outturned marginal lip extending to the outer face of the container beveled on its under side to form an outer knife edge, and said secondary closure having a complementary marginal lip covering over the lip of the primary closure.

2. In combination with a container having its major upper end initially open, a friction top entering said opening and frictionally engaging a container margin about the opening, said top having a depressed floor area, a score line at one side of said area for defining a pour hole, a marginal pouring lip extending from the top having an outturned marginal lip extending to the outer face of the container beveled on its under .side to form an outer knife edge, a second top entered within the first top and frictionally engaging therewith, and a marginal lip extending from the second top to cover over the lip of the first top.

AMOS N. GERTH. 

